Thubten Comerford
CEO of WePost Media and
one of the 30 most connected
people on LinkedIn, says up to
95% of his business revenue has
come from the professional network.
"Nearly all of the clients we have
served have either found us on
LinkedIn, found our web site
on my LinkedIn profile
, or have heard about us from
someone whom I know through
LinkedIn," Comerford said.
served have either found us on
LinkedIn, found our web site
on my LinkedIn profile
, or have heard about us from
someone whom I know through
LinkedIn," Comerford said.
He only knows 2% of his 30,000-person-plus network well and
another 3% casually. He's connected to the rest for strategic reasons.
another 3% casually. He's connected to the rest for strategic reasons.
Comerford's company, WePost, is a brand development and
reputation management consulting
firm based in Portland, Oregon.
reputation management consulting
firm based in Portland, Oregon.
His own LinkedIn experience had a rocky start.
“In the beginning [when] I sent out invitations, it pulled my
Outlook address book in,
and invitations went out to 2,400 people in there, most
of whom were not going to be
interested in joining LinkedIn.” Comerford tells Business Insider.
Outlook address book in,
and invitations went out to 2,400 people in there, most
of whom were not going to be
interested in joining LinkedIn.” Comerford tells Business Insider.
But he soon hit his stride.
"Most of the people I’m connected to have invited me to connect
with them," Comerford says.
with them," Comerford says.
Comerford warns not to “pad” your profile with inauthentic information,
adding that potential connections are keen at spotting dishonesty.
adding that potential connections are keen at spotting dishonesty.
He also discussed how some people shouldn't be afraid to connect
with people they don't know personally.
with people they don't know personally.
"This all has to do with mindset. If someone connects with
someone they already know, their
opportunities will be fewer. If you’re connecting with people
who you don’t necessarily know,
but they are well connected themselves, and you tailor your
profile, then you’re more likely to
have those opportunities show up."
someone they already know, their
opportunities will be fewer. If you’re connecting with people
who you don’t necessarily know,
but they are well connected themselves, and you tailor your
profile, then you’re more likely to
have those opportunities show up."
While Comerford says he knows about 20 of the top
100 most connected LinkedIn users,
he said that he would relish in the opportunity to
network with more on a personal level.
100 most connected LinkedIn users,
he said that he would relish in the opportunity to
network with more on a personal level.
“I would like to see a conference of some sort of the
most connected people on LinkedIn,
perhaps the top 500 people or so," he says.
"LinkedIn is incredibly valuable, an incredibly
valuable resource.”
most connected people on LinkedIn,
perhaps the top 500 people or so," he says.
"LinkedIn is incredibly valuable, an incredibly
valuable resource.”
